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Team Santa jingles to youth division title
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Posted on Dec 21 2021
From left, Team Santa runners, Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez, Anthony Bergancia, Dev Ashok Bachani, Cody Shimizu, and Markus Toves cross the finish line first in the youth division of Northern Marianas Athletics’ Annual Christmas Island Relay last Saturday. (MARK RABAGO)
Team Santa didn’t need Rudolph’s help in winning the youth division of Northern Marianas Athletics’ Annual Christmas Island Relay last Saturday.
The team, which is made up of soccer players Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez, Dev Ashok Bachani, Cody Shimizu, Anthony Bergancia, and Markus Toves, completed the 13.7-mile long race from the Pacific Islands Club Saipan in San Antonio to the Last Command Post in Marpi in a time of 1:31:04.
Team Santa captain Chavez said they’re happy all their hard work and sacrifice paid off by winning the youth division of the Christmas Island Relay.
“It was a great race and finally we were able to get first place for the youth division. Me and my teammates we all worked hard and we had a fun time so yes definitely a great win. The race was somewhat hard but me and my teammates we all just pushed ourselves to get the win. Thank you to all our families and people who supported us throughout the race,” she said.
The TanHoldings Football Club midfielder said she and her teammates were also happy to finally be able to race in-person again following months of restrictions due to the recent COVID-19 surge in the community.
Team Santa runners are joined by some of their parents after the team of soccer players won the youth division of Northern Marianas Athletics’ Annual Christmas Island Relay last Saturday. (MARK RABAGO)
“We were all happy that the race was face-to-face because we were motivated to catch up to people and beat them,” she said.
Coming in second in the youth division was Agape Team B made up of Hudson Tan, Allen Luo, Peter Peng, Joseph Li, and Peter Yang after the five-some crossed the finish line in 1:44:12.
Saipan Swim Club, meanwhile, swapped their goggles and swimming caps for running shoes and finished in third place with a time of 1:47:23. The momentary land lovers team was composed of Michael Miller, Moshe Sikkel, Taiyo Akimaru, Jack Raho, and Takeru Jim.
NMA secretary general Robin Sapong congratulated all the winners and all the participants of the 2021 edition of the Christmas Island Relay. He also extended his gratitude to the Department of Public Safety for manning the intersections and managing traffic during the early morning race.
“DPS Traffic Division kept all participants safe from south to north,” he said.
